Having to go to Littleton and not having much time, I decided to go up to Artists Bluff,  it is short, and with a great view of Cannon and Lafayette Mountains overlooking Echo lake and the Franconia notch.  Of course there is NO parking next to the trail head on the shoulder,  even though there is plenty of space.  There is a big parking lot for the camping and day use of the facilities for Echo Lake, the attendant was nice enough to let me park to make my run to the top of Bald Mountain however. 

I went the wrong direction at first, the trail makes a big loop around Bald Mountain.  I wanted to get to the bluff first to set my camera for a time lapse, and then explore.  I was struck by the HUGE glacier erratic boulders that spot the trail on the way up.  This is one steep climb, even though it might be short, it is a good workout with a full pack of camera gear and water.  A quick stop at the bluff, I set my camera looking through two of the boulders and up through the notch showing both Cannon and Lafayette mountains and the clouds.  You can see the tram moving on the right side of the time lapse which is fun to watch. 

artist bluff I had the camera tucked into a corner in the bushes with a bag weighing it down so it wouldn't move and it was barely noticed by the guests to the lookout area.  It is surprising to me how many people came and went in the two hour time slot the camera was there.  leaving the camera, I finished my trip to the top of the hill.  I was struck by the ground cover a couple times, but didn't take the pack of my back until I found a large boulder that had ferns, and moss growing on the top.  Some cool flat peeling lichen on the sides and a small trail where people had walked along the top of it.  and trees growing close enough that they are scared by growing up against the big rock.

The change of growth by level and the interesting patterns they made drew my attention as did how some of the plants grew up along the cracks and in the moss.  The lichen was crazy some of them looking like plates with the edges curled up or swirled around the center.   The way the roots out of the soil cover the ground  and rocks in places make it look almost horror movie like.  The dense growth of trees keeps most of the light out, and it was dark with just a few spots of sunlight hitting the ground.   I think these might be some interesting subjects to point the camera at for a time lapse on sunny days.

I found the rock at the top, and stood with the Infrared camera to capture some images and my PHONE slid out of my pack and down the rock, then the slope in front of the rock!  Seeing where it went, I climbed down after it to find it was a DUMP for water bottles.  Do disheartening. to see so many water, soda and beer bottles in the leaf litter at the base of that boulder. 

Hanging out at the Bluff,  I took photos for a panorama.  I am still not certain what I think of these collage panoramas.  I love the panorama head I have, and making the 360° panos, this spot might be a good spot for one, but the head is SO heavy it adds over 10 pounds just for that one piece of equipment, it has been a struggle getting it into the woods.

I will need to search out another piece of equpment light enough to tag along and allowing me to rotate around the nodal point.  Ug.

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